Grass dusting is a phenomenon that takes place in regular cycles, resulting from the natural rhythm of life of the surrounding flora. Unfortunately, it is often a source of health problems for people suffering from various types of allergies. Grass dusting can cause unpleasant skin symptoms or respiratory problems. Fortunately, grass pollination follows the same repetitive cycles each year that make up the so-called pollen calendar. This allows people suffering from certain allergies to properly prepare for the pollen season.
Grass dusting, allergens and the area of residence
Grasses belong to the group of wind-pollinated plants. During the pollen season of the grass, they release a large amount of pollen, which when entering the air, travels with its masses. Pollen contains allergens, which are the main and the most common cause of allergy symptoms in our country. The production of pollen, which can cause allergic symptoms, usually begins at the end of April. Then the amount of allergens in the air is kept at a low level and does not significantly affect allergic symptoms in people allergic to various types of grass or grains. The most intense period of dustiness in Central Europe, during which allergy symptoms may worsen, is the three-month period: May, June and July.
In other parts of the world, the dust season may be quite different. The pollen pattern depends on the grasses and cereals found in a given geographical area. For example, in Northern Europe, the most intense period of dust occurs in June, July and the beginning of August, while in the area of Southern Europe, especially in countries close to the Mediterranean Sea, the period of the highest dustiness occurs only in May. Periods of dust in different parts of the world may therefore differ in several respects, both in terms of specific months of allergen release by plants, in terms of the duration of this period, and the amount and intensity of pollen introduced into the air. For example, in southern Europe the overall pollen season is extremely long, but the average pollen concentration during pollen is relatively low. As a result, people who are allergic to grasses or grains may complain of allergy symptoms at different times during the calendar year, depending on where they live.
It should be emphasized here that although grasses are considered the most common cause of allergic symptoms, not only they cause allergies. Dusting plants and plants that cause unpleasant ailments in Poland include, for example, trees such as birch, oak, ash, and other plants, such as nettle.
Common symptoms of grass allergies
Grasses is the general name for about 800 different types of plants, which in turn can be divided into almost 10 different species. Of these, in Poland we can find only 200 different species of grass. The grass includes not only green plants, but also, for example, grains. This allows grasses to be divided into two general types – wild and cultivated. The cultivated grasses include: wheat, rye, sheep, millet, barley, maize, sorghum, rice, as well as sugar cane, bamboo and others.
People allergic to grass pollen may experience typical allergy symptoms when exposed to allergens. Since pollen travels primarily with air masses, symptoms may intensify in places densely covered with grass – meadows, parks, forests. The farther we are from the source of allergens, the lower their concentration in the air should be, and thus the milder the symptoms caused by them will be.
Common symptoms of grass pollen allergy include:
- swelling of the nasal mucosa,
- excessive production of mucus, the consistency of which is thinned, watery,
- itchy nose, palate, inside of the mouth,
- sneezing, problems with patency of the nose,
- tearing, red eyes, itchy eyes, burning of the conjunctiva.
During periods of particularly high pollen production, symptoms may intensify and take a form similar to asthma attacks:
- breathing problems, shortness of breath, intense dry cough,
- tightness of the chest,
- inability to take a full breath.
You should not ignore the symptoms of allergies when they take an intense form. If you feel short of breath, leave the place as soon as possible and take the appropriate medication. People with such intense symptoms should pay attention to the current place of their stay during the pollen season, in particular:
- give up walks in wild green areas, such as meadows, young forests, parks,
- avoid mowing the grass and staying in an area where the grass has been recently mowed,
- avoid contact with grain and hay (with the latter not only during pollination periods),
- avoid staying in arable fields and in their immediate vicinity.